The Tanzanian government has denied rumors circulating on social media that Dr. Philip Mpango, the country’s former Vice President, is under house arrest, saying the information is false and baseless.
This was announced by Gerson Msigwa, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Sports and Culture and Government Spokesperson, after reports continued to circulate on social media that some former senior government officials were in prison or under strict surveillance.
Msigwa said, “The former Vice President is not in prison. He is continuing his normal activities after leaving government duties.”
In recent days, platforms including X, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok have been spreading rumors that in addition to Dr. Mpango, former Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and former Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Tulia Ackson Mwansasu, were either under house arrest or were being monitored by security forces.
Msigwa denied all of this, saying it was a rumor spread by people who wanted to tarnish the country.
He said, “Ignore what is being said by someone who calls himself Eagle Ezra, a YouTuber from Kenya.”
The Tanzanian government says that this information is part of a network of rumors and misleading information aimed at uniting the population and tarnishing the country’s image abroad.
He urged citizens to avoid following news that does not have an official source or is said by people with political agendas, but rather rely on the announcement of the relevant authorities.
